Navy to name Austal-built ship for former Rep. Gabby Giffords

President Barack Obama hugs Rep. Gabrielle Giffords before giving his State of the Union speech on Jan. 24, 2012 in Washington. (White House photo)

The U.S. Navy announced today that a new warship to be assembled at Austal USA's Mobile shipyard will be named for former U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords, who was wounded in an Arizona shooting rampage a year ago.

LCS 10, a littoral combat ship, will named the USS Gabrielle Giffords, according to Navy Secretary Ray Mabus. A contract for construction of the ship, designed for shallow-water, high-speed missions, is expected to be awarded later this year.

Mabus made the announcement at a Pentagon news conference attended by Giffords, who retired in January, and Roxanna Green, whose 9-year-old daughter Christina-Taylor Green was killed in the Jan. 11, 2011, shooting in Tucson.

“The name this ship bears and the story represented by that name will inspire all those who come in contact with her,” Mabus said today. “It’s very appropriate that the LCS-10 be named for someone who has become synonymous with courage, who has inspired the nation with remarkable resiliency.”

The Navy said in a statement that Giffords "is known for supporting the military and veterans, advocating for renewable energy and championing border security." Green will serve as the ship's sponsor.

Austal builds one of two LCS variants for the Navy in Mobile. The other is built by Lockheed Martin Corp. in Wisconsin. The Navy ultimately plans to purchase 55 of the cutting-edge warships, which are designed to chase pirates, sweep for mines and patrol coastlines.

After naming the first two prototypes the Independence and the Freedom, the Navy named subsequent ships for U.S. cities, including Coronado, Detroit, Fort Worth, Jackson, Little Rock, Milwaukee and Montgomery.

Mabus, a former Mississippi governor, said Giffords and Green "are sources of great inspiration and represent the Navy and Marine Corps qualities of overcoming, adapting and coming out victorious despite great challenges."

Austal employs about 2,400 at its Mobile River shipyard, where it also produces Joint High-Speed Vessels for the Navy.